Gun rest with magnetic holding means



y 1962 J. 'r. SEABROOK 3,041,938

GUN REST WITH MAGNETIC HOLDING MEANS Filed June 19, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jag/1 ZJmh-wk,

Mame a July 3, 1962 J. 1-. SE'ABROOK 3,0 38

GUN REST WITH MAGNETIC HOLDING MEANS Filed June 19, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR.

Jm [Jedi/wk, 4 BY myzmpg 3,tl4l,938 GUN REST WITH MAGNETE HQLDHNG REANS John T. Seabrooh, 5401 Park Road, Fallis @hurch, Va. Fiied July 19, 1960, Ser. No. 43,809 7 Claims. (Cl. 8937) This invention relates to a gun rest, and more particularly to a gunrest which is capable of vertical as well as horizontal adjustment. 7

The object of the invention is to provide a gun rest which is provided with magnetic means thereon for coaction with metal members or portions of the gun being supported so that the gun will be held steady and wherein when desired the gun can be adjusted up and down or in a horizontal plane, and wherein after the parts have been moved to their desired adjusted position, the parts can be held stationary so that accidental shifting or movement thereof is prevented. Another object of the invention is to provide a gun rest which is especially suitable for use in supporting a gun or rifle or firearm as for example when test shots are being fired at a target so that for example the sights can be adjusted and wherein the present invention will also facilitate the checking of the proper sighting as well as to facilitate the teaching of the use of the firearm.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gun rest which is of rugged construction and reliable in operation and simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the present invention being used for supporting a gun, and with parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 2 is to top plan view of the assembly of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view illustrating the supporting means for the butt portion of the stock of the gun.

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the supporting means of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the plate which is secured to the butt portion of the stock and wherein this plate is adapted to coact with magnets on the supporting means.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the front supporting means for the gun.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, illustrating a modification.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modification.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view illustrating a further modification.

FIGURE 12 is a view illustrating a modification, and with parts broken away.

Referring in details to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 through 8 of the drawings, the numeral indicates a conventional firearm or gun which Cit 3, 41,938 Patented July 3, 1962 includes the usual stock 21 that has a butt portion 22, and the firearm 29 includes the usual barrel 23.

According to the present invention there is provided a gun rest for the firearm or gun 20, and the gun rest includes a supporting means 24 for the butt portion of the gun, and the supporting means 24 embodies a horizontally disposed block 25 which has pointed spindles or feet 26 depending therefrom for engaging a surface 34 which may be a floor, platform, ground surface or the like.

The numeral 27 indicates a vertically disposed post which is secured to or formed integral with the block 25, and there is provided a shoulder 28 on the block 25 con tiguous to the lower ends of the post 27. The post 27 is provided with a recess 29 intermediate its ends, FIGURE 3, and a permanent magnet 30 is mounted in the recess 29, and the magnet 30 may be retained in place as for example by means of securing elements such as screws 31. As shown in FIGURE 4 for example, a magnet 32 is fastened to the shoulder 28 as for example by means of screws 33.

The numeral 35 indicates a metal plate which may have an L-shape, and the plate 35 includes a'vertical section 36 which is snugly positioned and secured in a recess 37 in the butt 22 as for example by means of screws 38, and the plate 35 further includes a horizontal section 39 which is secured in place as for example by means of one or more screws 40.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 for example there is provided a supporting mechanism 41 which is spaced forwardly from the supporting means 24, and the supporting mechanism 41 is adapted to be used for supporting the front portion of the gun 2h. The supporting mechanism 41 embodies a horizontally disposed base 42 which is provided with depending pointed feet 43, and secured to or formed integral with the upper portion of the base 42 is a sleeve 44 which is provided with a rectangular socket or recess 45 therein. The numeral 46 indicates a standard which is rectangular in cross section, and the lower portion of the standard 46 engages the socket 45 in the sleeve 44. A set screw 47 extends through the sleeve 44 and engages the standard 46, so that by loosening the set screw 47, the standard 46 and its associated parts can be raised or lowered as desired, and after the standard 46 has been moved to its desired location, the set screw 47 can be tightened in order to maintain the parts immobile in their adjusted positions.

As shown in FIGURE 1 for example, there is provided in the standard 46 intermediate the end thereof an opening 48, and the numeral 49 indicates an L-shaped bar which comprises a vertically disposed leg 50 and a horizontally disposed leg 51, and the leg 51 is adjustably mounted in the opening 48. The numeral 52 indicates a set screw which extends through a portion of the standard 46' and engages the leg 51 so as to provide a means for locking or maintaining the bar 49 immobile in its various adjusted positions.

The numeral 53 indicates a small metal plate which is adapted to be suitably secured in a recess 54 in the lower front portion of the stock 21, and a magnet 55 is secured to the leg 51 as for example by means of securing elements 56, and the magnet 55 is adapted to coact with the plate 53 in order to help maintain the firearm stationary in its desired position.

As shown in FIGURE 6 there is also provided a magnet 57 which is secured to the leg 50 in any suitable manner, as for example by means of a screw arrangement 58,

and the magnet 57 is adapted to coact with the metal barrel 23 of the gun 20.

Referring now to FIGURE 8 of the drawings, the numeral 59 indicates a bracket which has one end secured as at 60 to the bar 49, and the bracket 59 includes an upstanding lip 61 which is adapted to engage the front of the stock 21 so as to help hold the gun in the desired position.

Referring now to FIGURE 9 of the drawings, there is shown a modification wherein the numeral 49' indicates an L-shaped bar which can be used in lieu of or instead of the bar 49, and the bar 49' includes a vertically disposed leg 50' and a horizontally disposed leg 51'. A magnet 57 is suitably secured to the leg 50', and a magnet 55' is suitably secured as by screws or the like to the horizontal leg 51'. As shown in FIGURE 9 screw members 62 and 63 extend through suitable openings which may be threaded in the legs and magnets for engaging portions of the gun 20 so that by manually rotating or turning the screw members 62 and 63 the gun can be adjusted or shifted up and down as well as in a lateral or in a side ways direction so as to vary the gap or space between the magnets 57' and 55 and the adjacent portions of the gun so as to provide a means for regulating the magnetic attraction and also to provide a means for adjusting the gun to the desired location.

Referring now to FIGURE 10 of the drawings, the numeral 4%" indicates a further modified bar which can be used instead of the bar 49' or instead of the bar 49, and the bar 49" includes a vertical leg 50" arid a horizontal leg 51". In the modification of FIGURE 10, electro-magnets 64 and 65 are mounted in the legs 50" and 51", and these electro-magnets can be used instead of the permanent magnets such as the magnets 57 and 55, and these electro-magnets may be connected to a suitable source of electrical energy such as a battery or the like as for example by means of wires or conductors 66.

Attention is now directed to FIGURE 11 of the drawings, wherein the numeral 41' indicates a modified supporting means which includes a base 42' that is provided with a plurality of cars or lugs 67 that have apertures or openings 68 therein so that in FIGURE 11 feet such as the feet 53 are not used. In FIGURE 11 suitable securing elements such as bolts, screws or the like are adapted to be extended through the openings 68 and into engagement with a supporting table, bench or the like whereby the mechanism 41 can be securely and firmly anchored in place.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a gun rest which is especially suitable for use in supporting a gun or firearm such as the gun and wherein the gun can be readily adjusted to a desired position and then due to the provision of the novel locking means of the present invention the parts can be maintained stationary or immobile in their adjusted positions. With the parts arranged as shown in the drawings and in particular in FIGURES 1 through 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that the gun 20 is adapted to be arranged so that the butt portion 22 is supported on the unit 24, while the front portion of the gun 20 is supported on the mechanism 41. The gun 20 has its butt portion recessed as at 37, and a metal plate has a vertical section 36 secured in the recess 37 as for example by means of securing elements 38, and the plate 35 includes a lower section 39 which is arranged at right angles to the vertical section 36.

The lower front portion of the stock 21 is recessed as at 54, and a metal plate 53 is suitably secured in this recess 54. Then, with the parts arranged as shown in FIGURE 1 for example, it will be seen that the magnets 30 and 32 will coact with the plate portions 36 and 39' so as to anchor or hold the butt portion of the gun 20 stationary. The pointed feet 26 and 43 are adapted to dig into a surface such as the surface 34 so as to prevent accidental shifting of the members or units 24 and 41.

The supporting mechanism 41 includes the base 42 with the sleeve 44 thereon, and by loosening the screw member 47, the standard 46 can be raised or lowered as desired, and then the screw member 47 can be tightened in order to maintain the standard 46 and its associated parts stationary. In addition, by loosening the screw member or set screw 52, the horizontal leg 51 of the bar 49 can be adjusted horizontally so that it will be seen that by means of the pair of set screws 52 and 47, the mechanism 41 can be adjusted vertically as well as horizontally in order to locate or position the front portion of the gun 29 at the desired position.

The horizontal leg 51 of the bar 49 has the magnet 55 secured thereto, and this magnet 55 is adapted to coact with the plate 53 as shown in the drawings, and since the plate 63 is of metal, the magnet will have a tendency to attract the same thereto in order to help steady or hold the gun in the desired position. The magnet 57 is secured as at 58 to the vertical leg 50 of the bar 49, and the magnet 5'7 coacts with the metal barrel 23 in order to provide a further means of anchoring the gun.

In addition, the bracket 59 is secured as at 60 to the bar 49, and the bracket 59 includes a lip 61 which is adapted to engage the front of the stock 21 which aids in holding the gun in the desired location.

Referring to FIGURE 9 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modified bar 49 which can be used in place of the bar 49, and the bar 49' has magnets 55' and 57 secured thereto and these magnets function in the same manner as the previously described magnets 55 and 57. Screw members 62. and 63 extend through suitable apertures or openings in the magnets and legs of the bar 49' and these screw members 62 and 63 are adapted to be manually turned or threaded in or out so that for example by properly rotating the screw member 63 the gap between the plate 53 and the magnet 55 can be increased or changed, and similarly by properly turning the screw member 62, the gap or space between the magnet 57' and the barrel 23 can be varied. Thus, the position of the screw members 62 and 63 provides an added adjustment which can be used to help locate the gun at the desired position and in addition this arrangement provides a means of varying the magnetic flux or magnetic attraction between the magnets and the adjacent metal parts of the gun being supported.

In the modification of FIGURE 10, the bar 49 can be used instead of the bar 49 or instead of the bar 49', and the electro-magnets 64 and 65 may be connected to a battery or other source of electrical energy, and these electro-magnets 64 and 65 are adapted to coact with the barrel 23 and plate 53 and serve the same purpose as the previously described magnets 57 and 55 except that in FIGURE 10 the members 64 and 65 are not permanent magnets but are electro-magnets.

As shown in FIGURE 11 instead of utilizing pointed spindles or feet 43 to hold a member such as the member 42 in place, the apertured lugs or ears 67 can be bolted to a table or other supporting structure as desired.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

It will be seen that according to the present invention there has been provided a gun rest which includes the two units 24 and 41 and after the gun has been brought to the desired location for accurate aiming, as for example by means of a scope, the magnetic members maintain the gun in place and the magnets exert a powerful grip or hold on the gun. By utilizing the arrangement shown in FIGURE 9 and by rotating the screw members 62 and 63 the magnetic pull or traction can be regulated, and the various magnets which may be permanent types or electro-magnets can be interchanged as desired. The present invention will serve to hold the gun steady and on aim while the gun recoils and free recoil will not be interfered with but the magnetic members help prevent the gun from moving permanently out of its proper position. In the gun rest of the present invention there are a plurality of bearing points and the end of the stock is arranged in engagement with the lip 61 which provides a positive and absolute stop.

The device is constructed so that when a gun is fired it can move slightly in response to the recoil action but downward movement of the gun is prevented since the bearing surfaces beneath the gun do not give. The magnets will exert a continuous and uniform holding effect on the gun and after the recoil has ended after the gun has fired, the gun can be returned to its initial desired location so that it will be exactly on aim ready to fire again.

The parts are adapted to have a rugged construction and the elements will not work loose during use and due to the provision of the various adjusting features, the gun can be readily adjusted to obtain perfect target aim.

In addition in the present invention the forward support 41 will correct any azimuth distortions and wherein the firearm will be restored to its initial position for subsequent on target firing in accordance with the initial sighting. The magnets will help prevent the firearm from moving out of the desired vertical or horizontal plane as previously stated.

The present invention is applicable when firing in a prone or sitting position and the magnetic arrangement holds the gun in position during firing and also after recoil the gun can be returned to its initial position.

Referring now to FIGURE 12 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modified gun rest or supporting means 70 that comprises a block 71 which has an upstanding post 72 suitably affixed thereto, and a magnet 73 is connected to the post 72 as at 75 and the magnet 73 is adapted to coact with a metal plate 74 which is suitably embedded in or secured to the gun 20. An electromagnet 76 is suitably connected to the post 72, and the electro magnet 76 is adapted to coact with an L-sha-ped element 77, the element 77 being secured as at 78 to the gun 20. A hold down magnet such as the magnet 32 is also adapted to be used with the device of FIGURE 12, and in addition a supporting mechanism such as the supporting mechanism 41 is adapted to be used in conjunction with the gun rest of FIGURE 12.

Secured to the element 77 or formed integral therewith is a projection 79 which is provided with an elongated slot 84 and a movable member 81 is pivotally connected to the projection '79 as at 82. The movable member 81 is pivotally connected or supported as at 89. A contact 33 is carried by the movable member 81, and the contact 83 is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with a contact 84 on a stationary support piece 85, and the support piece 85 may be secured to the block 71 as at 86. As shown in the drawings there is provided an electrical circuit which includes the switch 90 that includes the contacts 83 and 84, and the circuit also includes Wires 87 and a source of electrical energy 88.

It will be seen that with the parts arranged as shown in FIGURE 12 after the gun 20 recoils, the gun 20 will move from right to left in FIGURE 12 so that the L-shaped member 77 will move the projection 79 rearwardly and this will cause the member 81 to pivot on its pin 89 so as to move the contact 83 into engagement with the contact 84 and this will complete the electrical circuit to the electro magnet 76 whereby the electro magnet 76 will draw or pull the L-shaped member 77 back to its proper initial position so that the gun will be returned to initial position after recoil. In addition as the gun is returned to initial position, the L-shaped member 77 will return to the position shown in FIGURE 12 and this will move the parts from the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 12 to the solid line position so that the switch 90 will be opened whereby the electrical circuit to the solenoid 76 will be broken so that when the gun is next fired, the gun can recoil and thus the cycle can be repeated.

The magnet 73 functions in the same manner as the previously described magnet 30 and the magnet 73 is adapted to coact with the plate 74 which is afiixed to the gun 20 whereby the magnet 73 will maintain the gun in its proper aligned position as previously stated.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A rest for a gun, comprising a horizontally disposed base, a vertically adjustable standard operatively connected to said base, means for maintaining said standard immobile in its adjusted positions, a bar adjustably connected to said standard, means for maintaining said bar stationary in its adjusted positions, magnetic means on said bar, said bar including a vertically disposed leg and a horizontally disposed leg, said magnetic means comprising a magnet affixed to the vertical leg, a magnet affixed to the horizontal leg of the bar, and a plate for coaction with said last named magnet.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said magnets are of the permanent type.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said magnets are of the electro-magnetic type.

4. A rest for a gun, comprising a horizontally disposed base, a vertically adjustable standard operatively connected to said base, means for maintaining said standard immobile in its adjusted positions, a bar adjustably connected to said standard, means for maintaining said bar stationary in its adjusted positions, magnetic means on said bar, said bar including a vertically disposed leg and a horizontally disposed leg, said magnetic means comprising a magnet affixed to the vertical leg, a magnet affixed to the horizontal leg of the bar, a plate for coaction with said last named magnet, manual operable screw members extending through said legs and through said magnets, and magnetic support means.

5. In a device of the character described a firearm having a stock provided with a butt and a barrel, said device comprising a support means for the butt, said support means including a horizontally disposed block, a vertically disposed post aifixed to said block and said post being provided with a recess, a magnet secured in said recess, a shoulder on said block adjacent said post, a magnet secured to said shoulder, an L-shaped plate secured to the butt of the firearm, a supporting mechanism spaced from said support means and said supporting mechanism comprising a base having a sleeve on the upper portion thereof, said sleeve having an inner socket therein, a standard having its lower end engaging said socket, a set screw projecting through said sleeve for engagement with said standard, there being an opening in said standard intermediate the ends thereof, an L-shaped bar including a horizontally disposed leg adjustably mounted in said opening, a set screw extending through said standard and engaging said leg, said bar further including a vertically disposed leg, a plate afiixed to the lower front portion of the stock of the firearm, a magnet secured to said horizontally disposed leg for coaction with said last named plate, a magnet affixed to the vertical leg of the bar for coaction with the barrel of the firearm, and a bracket secured to said bar for engaging the front of the stock.

6. In a rest for a gun, a support mechanism comprising a base having a sleeve on the upper portion thereof, there being a socket in said sleeve, a standard having its lower end engaging said socket, a set screw extending through said sleeve and engaging said standard, there being an opening in said standard intermediate the ends thereof, an L-shaped bar including a horizontal leg adjustabl mounted in said opening, a set screw extending through said standard and engaging said horizontal leg, said bar also including a vertical leg, a magnet secured to the horizontal leg and a magnet secured to the vertical leg of the bar, and a bracket secured to said bar and having an upstanding lip providing a stop member.

7. In combination with a gun, a rest comprising a horizontally disposed block, a vertically disposed post aflixed to said block, a magnet connected to said post, an

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fraser et al. June 19, Martin Sept. 25, Leek Jan. 8, McPherson June 23, Ryan et al. Oct. 18, Humbargar Jan. 31, 

